Sheila’s Story

“I wasn’t worried about a thing.”

Sheila’s life was turned upside down when a routine mammogram revealed a potentially dangerous lump in her breast. It was so small that even her family doctor hadn’t detected it – but less than two weeks later she was in surgery.

Sheila’s family doctor asked her where she would like to have her treatment. A resident of Vaughan, she hadn’t thought she would be able to make that choice herself. But knowing Southlake’s reputation, she decided to give it a try.

And she never looked back.

From the efficient care to the kind and patient staff who took the time to get to know her, the care she received at Southlake’s Stronach Regional Cancer Centre put her completely at ease during her many weeks of treatment.

“I wasn’t worried about a thing,” says Sheila. “Just walking in the doors I felt like I was in the best hands possible.”

What stood out for her was the compassionate care she received from our staff – she was never treated like a number. They remembered her name. They treated her like a friend, not a patient. And it was everyone on the team, from the volunteers to the nurses to her doctor.

“The team is incredible,” says Sheila. “I asked a new question every time I went in there. Every week I talked to Dr. Conrad, who asked how I was feeling and made sure I was feeling comfortable. It never even felt like I was at the hospital.”

Sheila completed her treatments earlier this year. It still brings tears to her eyes remembering the handwritten card she received from her radiation team, wishing her their warm congratulations and fond farewell. It’s a treasure that she’s held onto.

“I feel very privileged to have been able to have my care at Southlake,” says Sheila. “I’m glad that families that donated were able to provide this amazing care for the communities.”

Sheila’s care was made possible thanks to the generous support of donors who provide our expert teams with the tools they needed for her treatment. Having the right equipment meant they could focus on providing Sheila the compassion she needed to calm her fears and help her through this difficult journey.